The Andersons, Inc. has announced a major expansion of its Port Houston facility, aimed at enhancing soybean meal export capabilities. This strategic move, backed by $275,000 in funding from a coalition of soybean farmer organizations, addresses key priorities in the soybean industry's efforts to remain competitive in global markets.
Key points of the development include:
The expansion will add 22,000 metric tons of storage capacity for soybean meal at the Houston terminal.
Funding is provided by the United Soybean Board, Soy Transportation Coalition, and soybean boards from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.
The project aims to diversify the soybean supply chain, reducing reliance on the Mississippi River and targeting new international markets.
The investment responds to the growing need for soybean meal export infrastructure, driven by increased domestic soybean processing for the renewable fuels industry.
Mike Koehne, Chairman of the Soy Transportation Coalition and an Indiana soybean farmer, emphasized the project's alignment with farmer priorities, stating, "This project addresses many of the priorities of soybean farmer leaders as we explore opportunities to remain profitable in the future."
Matt Dvorak, Houston Business Manager at The Andersons, highlighted the strategic importance of the expansion, noting, "As domestic soybean crush increases, we are identifying new opportunities for the export of soybean meal via our Houston facility."
The project is expected to open up new markets in the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America, while also enhancing the resilience of the U.S. soybean supply chain by reducing dependence on river transportation.
